Veteran’s Salmon Derby
DERBY REGULATIONS AND TIMINGS
“VETERANS SALMON DERBY” BRONTE 6 AM Saturday June 13th, 2026
1. All “Boats” and “Veterans” must be registered & confirmed on the morning of 14 June to participate between 6 – 630. There is NO REGISTRATION FEE however we raise funds and donations for our charity Veterans Helping Veterans Canada.
2. The “Veteran’s Salmon Derby” is limited to 50 “Boats” and 110 “Veterans” for 2026. The maximum number of rods fished per boat is 6, regardless of the number of Veteran’s on board. Each Veteran can only weigh-in one Salmon and register one Trout.
3. The Veteran’s Salmon Derby takes place from the Bronte Harbour Butterfly Gazebo at Bronte Outer Harbour, at the base of Bronte Road. Final detail briefing and marrying up between Veteran’s and Boat Captains takes place at 6 – 630 am. Coffee and light breakfast snacks available.
4. A “Mass Start” at 7 am at Bronte Creek harbour mouth. All entrants must fish from a boat, between 7 am and 12. Boats must be inside Bronte Creek mouth (lighthouse) NLT NOON (12 pm) or be penalized ONE POUND SALMON or 1 inch TROUT per minute or part thereof FROM THEIR LARGEST FISH.
5. A Veteran MUST: assist fighting their fish, and catch fish iaw Ontario Fishing Regs as outlined in the Fishing Ontario recreational fishing regulations summary, and be in possession of valid picture identification. Veteran’s do NOT require a fishing license.
6. **In past Derby’s many large Lake Trout have been harvested and weighed in, yet not retained for consumption. Being conservation minded and ethical, we have adopting CPR (CATCH, PICTURE, RELEASE) to the Trout portion of the Derby. All boat Captains that have backstops are requested to bring them. Those that do not have backstops will be “LOANED A BACKSTOP” to measure and photograph TROUT. “BACKSTOPS” MUST be returned prior to weighing in any fish.
7. Weigh-in, awards and BBQ will follow at Bronte Harbour Butterfly Gazebo. All SALMON must be weighed-in at the weigh-in station, and Trout CPR photo received, to be considered for prizes.
8. “All boats” require adequate safety equipment as per Transport Canada Regulations and have appropriate insurance. Fishing presents hazards any time – weather, faulty equipment and poor seamanship, to name a few. As a condition of participating in “Veterans Salmon Derby”, participants release Town of Oakville, “HAVET Fishing”, judges, volunteers and officers, employees, directors, representatives or agents from all liability or responsibility to the participant or his/her heirs, executors personal representatives, and representatives for loss, damage or injury suffered during the course of or arising out of participating in this event, whether or not arising out of negligence of those hereby released.
9. Plaques are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place to Veteran and Boat Captain: heaviest Salmon and length of Trout. A “BOAT” is only eligible for 1 (One) of 1st, 2nd or 3rd placings and mystery weight/length in each category. A “King of the Veterans” prize will be awarded to the Boat Captain with the heaviest combined weight of 1 Salmon & 1 Trout. (The weight of a trout is calculated by 3” equals one pound with a minimum length of 21 inches).
10. DECISION OF THE JUDGES IS FINAL.